We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashlyn Davis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashlyn, thanks for joining us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today

If I were starting over with my modeling industry path, I believe that the first thing that I would do differently is connect with my manager more when it came to the work that I was doing, to have them more involved with the hands-on or on-set parts of the job instead of so in the background. The second thing that I would do differently is to do more searches for available work, upcoming model calls, and upcoming fashion shows in my area, as this would have helped me to sooner gain more exposure.

If I were to begin again with my fashion design path, I would allow myself to go slower with the basic design & sewing concepts. By taking my time and allowing myself to make mistakes & learn something new, I would have understood certain processes & skills sooner, and I would have spent much less time being intimidated by them. For example, something as simple as sewing in a zipper is scary to many who are beginning at sewing, and it was for me too, but it doesn’t have to be.

Ashlyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a 22-year-old woman who enjoys creative pursuits, loves having a good time, and appreciates both the big & little things in life. I have been drawn to fashion since childhood; however, I didn’t gain the courage to pursue the fashion industry and my dreams until I began college, and I had a lot of help with that. Modeling is what I am most passionate about, it’s something that I never get tired of, and it’s what guided me to fashion design. Though I had previous interest in sewing, the fact that I would be able to model my own designs is what made me choose & commit to being a designer. I was a student at the University of Memphis, studying in the fashion program, and learning all that I needed to be prepared for the industry. My fashion brand is Lyn Davis Designs, and most recently I have showcased my first 2-Look Singles Collection at Memphis Fashion Week, which was a very successful event! It was fulfilling to utilize the skills that I learned throughout college for the occasion. As a model, I have most recently modeled for the University of Memphis fashion program, Dillard’s, and my brand!
I am most proud of the fact that I have allowed myself to embark on this path, on this journey, as it has already been fulfilling for me in pleasantly surprising ways. Moving forward, I want people to know that I am always being genuine and passionate in my work, and that I look forward to continuing to have a positive impact on both myself, and others through my creativity and expression.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When it comes to social media, I choose to keep it simple and build my audience through natural posting & interacting, while also being sure to network with new people that I meet. Meeting new people is fun because everyone is different, and being open-minded makes networking easy. I don’t try to rush the growth of my audience, I just allow it to happen. For those beginning to build social media presence, I think that it’s important to be very conscious and aware of what you post, to be considerate of others, and true to yourself & your brand. You stand out on social media by sharing only what you can.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The videos that have significantly impacted my entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy as a fashion designer are youtube videos from Zoe Hong, who is also a designer. Her videos are extremely informative and helpful, and I’d highly recommend them to any emerging designer! She has helped me to put some of the pieces together and focus on what matters when it comes to transforming my brand into a business.

Contact Info:

• Other: Modeling Instagram: https://instagram.com/reign.lyn?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Fashion Design Instagram: https://instagram.com/lyndavisdesigns?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Image Credits
Bodiedbybre Photography Mary Kate Steele Charles Brown Ashlyn Davis